FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT POLITICS - PAGE 4

Just as it sometimes takes a scandal to engage Americans in a national conversation about sex, race or some other touchy topic, it sadly has taken a deranged gunman to launch us into a national argument about civility. Much of the chatter has centered on how much the inflammatory rhetoric in our national media and politics helped cause the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that killed six people and wounded 14, including Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, 40, who was shot in the head.

Although often viewed as apathetic, teenagers are entering the political realm with more passion and interest than ever before. Teens are using politics to try to make a difference in their communities, reach out to voters and influence others. -- Melissa Wolfe, Fort Lauderdale High

The opposition to federalizing security guards at all airports by our president, George W. Bush, and his Republican majority in the House of Representatives is an absolute disgrace. The rationale for their dissidence is the supposition that these government employees would become unionized and would therefore vote Democratic. Playing politics while the lives of Americans are at stake is nothing less than shameful and despicable. Jerry Schreiber Boca Raton

Friday's letter calling Congress people who voted for a troop withdrawal from Iraq "traitorcrats" serves as a perfect example of how politics has degraded to vicious partisanship. Designating those who differ with one's views as traitors brings any productive debate to a halt. Unless discussions are held with a civil and reasoned rhetoric, we are doomed to disillusioning ever more Americans with our political processes, to say nothing of giving pleasure to those who are happy to see American democracy self-destruct.

Just wrote two stories for MSNBC.com on sports and the election. The first is on athletes' involvement in the campaign. It leads with Alonzo Mourning. The second is on presidents' involvement in sports. Two questions: Would an athlete's opinion ever influence your vote? And would you think less of an athlete who didn't share your political views?

The success of the new year will depend on: POLITICAL TRINITY: If these three cooperate, Washington can work reasonably well. If they give top priority to the 1996 presidential campaign instead of the public good, the result could be bill after bill passed by the Republican Congress and vetoed by the Democratic president. CAPITAL COOPERATION: Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, left, and GOP Senate leader Jim Scott, of Fort Lauderdale, can accomplish a lot - if they don't clash constantly.

Arnold Schwarzenegger seems to have a new target for his testosterone. Back when he was a lad, just starting to pump iron, "I was only interested in women for sex," the muscleman tells Britain's Loaded magazine. "Like most of the other guys of my age I'd tell them I loved their eyes, just to get them into bed. It was all bogus. "I went through those stages and don't regret any of it," says the husband of Maria Shriver. "I loved the sex that I had with those women, as wild as it was." But today, it's politics that gets him aroused.

How do you like your coffee? Republican, or Democrat? At 7-Eleven convenience stores across America, customers are already voting: They pick the John McCain coffee cup, or the Barack Obama version. "We sell more Obama," store clerk Roland Jr. Joseph advised at the downtown Fort Lauderdale store. Nationwide, Obama's leading with 59 percent of the cups, according to the 7-Election Web site. Some run from blue to red. Public Works employee Edward Rosado said he "picked this goofball last week," referring to Obama.